IN A REMATCH of last year’s decider, Vic Metro once again got the chocolates on the opening day of the AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships, defeating South Australia by four points in a hard-fought match at RSEA Park. We took note of some of the impressive players from the game with all notes the opinion of the individual author.

>> MATCH REPORT: Defending champs hold off Croweaters

VIC METRO:

#3 Tayla McMillan (Eastern Ranges)
Midfielder | 162cm | 25/05/2007

Stats: 23 disposals, 3 marks, 4 tackles, 6 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

McMillan got her opportunity to shine through the middle of the ground and was slick by both hand or foot, running at 65 per cent efficiency despite winning most of her 23 touches at the coalface. She recorded a team-high six clearances, and while not having a heap of space to work with, made her teammates better with her decisions and even got back to aid in transition from defence to attack well.

#11 Jordyn Allen (Eastern Ranges)
Defender | 167cm | 12/11/2007

Stats: 14 disposals, 4 marks, 3 tackles, 3 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

On paper it did not look like a huge game, but liked Allen’s run and carry from the back half, doing exactly what is expected of her. She found space for her teammates to hit her up, then went to nail passes going forward. While once again was most utilised for her transitional running, Allen still got her hands dirty at ground level and finished with an elite 79 per cent disposal efficiency for her troubles.

#12 Zoe Vozzo (Eastern Ranges)
Forward | 167cm | 06/02/2007

Stats: 7 disposals, 1 mark, 3 tackles, 3 goals

Incredible to think that Vozzo’s first two kicks were goals, but the Eastern wing/forward played permanently in the latter and popped up as the match-winner with her three snags. She got more of the ball in the final term and put the nail in the coffin with a classier snap after her first two were regulation majors. Showed clubs she can be that impact forward amongst a host of dangerous teammates.

#14 Olivia Gorman (Northern Knights)
Midfielder | 168cm | 25/10/2007

Stats: 17 disposals, 3 marks, 6 tackles, 2 clearances, 5 inside 50s

Looked comfortable at the level around the ball with Gorman applying strong tackling pressure early and setting the tone. Ever busy, Gorman is not necessarily the most flashiest player, but she just consistently gets the job done and makers her teammates better. The Northern Knights onballer took a nice intercept mark on the wing during the fourth term when the pressure was on, and was incredibly clean by hand throughout the match.

#20 Brylee Anderson (Eastern Ranges)
Defender | 173cm | 25/03/2008

Stats: 16 disposals, 2 marks, 6 tackles, 1 rebound 50

In a throwback to her previous season at the Ranges, Anderson played off half-back and showed some nice run, though was largely looking to nullify her opponents. The Eastern utility showed she can play on a variety of players, but also remain defensive when behind the ball, keeping close tabs on whoever she was standing at the time. Laid six tackles and still found the ball herself to be fairly busy all match.

#21 Scarlett Johnson (Northern Knights)
Wing | 175cm | 26/11/2007

Stats: 18 disposals, 4 marks, 4 tackles, 1 clearance, 4 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

Really liked her game once again with her ability to roam up and down the ground. She reads the ball so well in flight regardless of her position, so can chop off passes or get in the way of opposition players to force turnovers. In transition, Johnson uses the ball well and though her higher-risk passes at times can turnover, she has such a profound impact on matches with her clean hands and smarts.

#25 Chloe Bown (Oakleigh Chargers)
Midfielder | 173cm | 20/12/2007

Stats: 29 disposals, 3 marks, 11 tackles, 5 clearances, 10 inside 50s, 4 rebound 50s

Best on ground from Vic Metro, Bown was phenomenal throughout the contest and once again showed why she is the top Victorian prospect in this year’s AFLW Draft. She won the ball in the middle, but her work on the outside really stood out, working into space and being rewarded with passes from her teammates. Had a couple of chances going forward including a flying shot from 40m after playing on from a mark but the shot was just spoiled on the line. A crucial holding the ball tackle on Trengove won her a holding the ball free kick in defence, saving what could have been a third goal to the South Australian skipper. A really commanding performance.

#32 Asher Fearn-Wannan (Eastern Ranges)
Wing | 177cm | 14/12/2007

Stats: 13 disposals, 2 marks, 5 tackles, 2 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s

Followed on from her big game the week before for the Ranges to catch the eye for Metro. Fearn-Wannan runs all day and finds the ball in each third of the ground. Teammates looked to use her run to exploit the opposition, with Fearn-Wannan bombing the ball long to worry the South Australian defence. Laid a handful of strong tackle and acted well defensively to be among the better Metro players on the day.

#34 Zara Neuwirth (Oakleigh Chargers)
Key Defender | 183cm | 06/02/2007

Stats: 14 disposals, 1 mark, 5 tackles, 1 clearance, 5 rebound 50s

Neuwirth is not usually a high production player, but the Oakleigh defender certainly played a key role behind the ball and got involved in the action tracking her opponents up the field. She still held a strong line and was fierce at ground level, with nearly all of her touches coming under immense pressure. Took some kickouts and looked to relieve the pressure from the back 50 time and time again.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA:

#3 Charlee Brooksby (Norwood)
Wing/Defender | 169cm | 26/01/2008

Stats: 15 disposals, 4 marks, 2 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

The smooth-moving bottom-ager and sister of Port Adelaide’s Molly was effective in her role on the outside rotating between the wing and half-back. She gets into the right spots to find the pill and was smart with her ball use thanks to her knack of using either side of her body. Competitive in the air, she almost added her name to the goalkickers list with a running shot in the fourth term but the kick just fell short then bounced up and stayed in.

#6 Lucy Waye (West Adelaide)
Forward/Midfielder | 170cm | 07/06/2007

Stats: 24 disposals, 4 marks, 8 tackles, 5 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 behind

A prolific player both on the inside and outside, Waye works so hard up the ground when not on the inside, then spreads quickly when having an on-ball role. Defensively she was superb and quite a lot of the time she was getting her hands to the ball at the coalface feeding it out to her teammates. She had 14 touches and four marks to the main break to lead all-comers on her side. Such a well-balanced player both athletically and with her impact offensively and defensively.

#8 Emily Mableson (West Adelaide)
Defender | 171cm | 05/05/2008

Stats: 18 disposals, 8 tackles, 3 clearances, 6 rebound 50s

Clearly best-on for the Croweaters repelling numerous attacks from the back 50, the 2024 Under 16s MVP was composed with ball in hand and impacted on the turnover. She not only starred from a rebounding point of view, but also a defensive standpoint, laying eight tackles, one of which saved a potential goal with a brilliant run-down at half-back.

#9 Emma Charlton (South Adelaide)
Forward/Midfielder | 160cm | 19/06/2008

Stats: 33 disposals, 1 mark, 5 tackles, 10 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

The sister of Adelaide’s Teah wasted no time asserting herself on the national championships as a bottom-ager, recording more disposals than any other player rotating between midfield and attack. Impressively, despite having that rotation, she also accumulated a game-high 10 clearances and her slick handballs in close along with her ability to step through traffic really stood out in the match. Only had the one touch in quarter two, with hauls of 11, nine and 12 in the other three terms respectively.

#10 Imogen Trengove (Woodville-West Torrens)
Forward | 164cm | 25/04/2007

Stats: 27 disposals, 3 marks, 4 tackles, 3 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 2 goals, 1 behind

The South Australian skipper really caught the eye throughout the four quarters and was a beacon of consistency, teaming up well with Waye as those hard running players up the ground and around the contest. Trengove did spend more of her time forward but always pushing further afield to impact, kicking a great goal off hands midway through the second term, then keeping her side alive with a classy goal on the run in the fourth quarter. Had a standout performance that further elevated her standing within the draft crop.

#11 Sophie Eaton (Central District)
Defender | 170cm | 23/04/2007

Stats: 16 disposals, 1 mark, 4 inside 50s, 5 rebound 50s

Played off half-back and used her silky footskills to advantage and looking to create up the field. She played an outside running role to aide in transition, racking up 10 handball receives from her 16 touches, of which included 13 uncontested possessions. Her low kick to Chloe Tonkin going inside 50 in the third term was simply elite, though she also had a nice spoil earlier in the game, holding her line well before attacking down the ground.

#12 Tessa Davis (Glenelg)
Tall Defender | 173cm | 23/04/2007

Stats: 17 disposals, 1 mark, 3 tackles, 6 rebound 50s

Had a tough matchup against the in-form Bailee Martin, but did pretty well in the end to keep the Metro forward to just a couple of behinds. Aside from being penalised for a deliberate rushed behind – a point she argued came with oncoming pressure – she had a really strong game. Her ability to gather and kick to the high percentage positions was important, buying herself and her teammates time to set up. Was happy to scrap at ground level, took some kickouts and did the bulk of her work under pressure.

#13 Georgie Fielder (Glenelg)
Midfielder/Wing | 168cm | 28/07/2008

Stats: 19 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles, 1 clearance, 3 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

Another bottom-ager midfielder who though she did not win a lot of clearances, still got involved in transition and often dropped back to assist behind the ball. Very clean at ground level, Fielder ran hard when required and was exceptional with her ball use, running at 74 per cent efficiency. Though most of her touches were found on the outside, she made the most of when she did get in space, executing efficiently.

#18 Monique Bessen (Sturt)
Wing | 174cm | 05/02/2007

Stats: 17 disposals, 4 marks, 7 tackles, 3 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

Bessen started and finished the game strongly with 14 of her 17 disposals coming in either the first or fourth terms. She ran hard down a wing, got back to assist her defenders and was particularly strong defensively. Her release by hand stood out in the game, and though she has been more efficient by foot, still impacted the game with her smarts and decision making down the ground.